Step 1: Velcro® the AST Support Suit™ around your Dog.  If your dog will be laying down for this, lay the harness flat, inside up, with the bib to the left. Lay your dog on her/his right side on top of the harness. Whether standing or laying, put the harness on as far forward on your dog’s body as it will go. Wrap the Suit around your dog, with the Bib between the forelegs, being careful not to make the Suit too tight. The Velcro® strips will adhere together, and the Suit will be wrapped around your dog’s torso. (The suit is designed to fit a range of dog sizes. Depending on your dogs’ body shape the Velcro® strips may line up slightly askew; this is normal.)

Check the Bib— Make sure that it is not off to either side. Adjust the Suit so that the Bib is centered on the chest.

Step 2: Connect the Bridge Strap™ .  The Bridge Strap™ is the smaller, 1” wide strap that sits on the back of the dog’s neck and holds the Shoulder Straps together. The unique design of the Bridge Strap™ allows the Suit to fit dogs of different diameters, yet still remained centered. Connect the two pieces of the Bridge Strap™ to each other. After the Shoulder Straps have been connected, you can use the Bridge Strap™ to adjust them to provide maximum lift.

Step 3: Connect the Shoulder Straps. Hold the Bib against your dog’s chest and connect the shoulder straps to their corresponding pieces at the front of the harness, right side to right side, left to left. The shoulder straps should not cross each other. Your dog will now have a bib in place with a shoulder strap on each side of its neck, connected to the large, round Support Rings on either side of the front of the Suit.

Step 4: Tighten the Shoulder Straps. Once again, be sure the harness is as far forward on your dog’s body as it will go. Tighten the Shoulder Straps snugly, and adjust the Bridge Strap™ if necessary to get a secure fit. If the Shoulder Straps seem to ride too low, make the Bridge Strap™ tighter to bring them up and over the shoulders more. Use the slide on the straps to help increase or decrease lengths.

Step 5: Connect and Tighten the Girth Straps. Be careful not to over-tighten the Girth Straps. They should fit snugly, but they shouldn’t be tighter than the Suit. You should be able to get a couple of fingers between the straps and your dog.

Step 6: Attach the Handles to the Dog Harness.  Your dog’s Suit comes with a pair of adjustable Handle Straps, one for each side. Clip them on and you are ready to go. There is also a Grip Pad included with your handles, to pad your palm and make helping your pet that much easier.